Head coach George Welsh on defensive concerns:
"The defense did not do a good job stopping the run in the first scrimmage... I'll be concerned the whole year probably (with the secondary). Till we see how they're going to play. I think (Ahmad) Hawkins was better than he was in the Spring. He's got the chance to be a really good corner."

Welsh on the tailback situation:
"(Antwoine) Womack's still learning. He's not fully back in the groove. Arlen Harris had a good preseason. (Tyree) Foreman was doing very well. We had him at both spots - tailback and fullback, but he may not be around for the opener. He has a bad ankle sprain. It happened in practice a couple days ago."

Welsh on scrimmages:
"Wednesday is the last scrimmage. We had scheduled three. Then I changed my mind. A lot of linemen are less than 100 percent physically. A third one might be too much."

Welsh on turning 67 last week:
"I feel better physically now that I did in 1997. I've got enough energy."

Welsh on the ACC:
"I think the ACC is close but not stronger than the SEC. They've got better teams than we do. I don't know if anybody in the ACC but Florida State could beat Florida, Tennessee or Alabama."

LB Byron Thweatt on the defense overcoming last year's injuries:
"A lot of guys got experience last year in the heat of the battle. They were forced to because of injuries to others. I don't care who you are - Penn State, Florida State - if you don't have your potential starters playing, you're going to be in trouble. The defense has to have that gel. They need to feel good together and get used to each other."

QB Dan Ellis on tweaks in the offense:
"We've gotten new stuff from different teams. We're not going to have a totally new offense - just change little things like patterns, how we fake."

Ellis on the renovation of Scott Stadium:
"It's amazing. I live around the corner and see it everyday. The inside is awesome but even the stuff they've done on the outside is great. It's got a real Virginia feel to it."

Ellis on ACC quarterbacks:
"(FSU's Chris) Weinke's been around. This will be his third year. You see a guy like (North Carolina's Ronald) Curry. He's exciting to watch because you don't know what's going to happen. I'm just kind of the average quarterback. You're not gonna see me take off and run 90 yards. It's more of a ball control offense."

DB Jerton Evans on this season's camp:
"Camp has been physical. I honestly don't think it's punishment. If we practice at game speed, we play at game speed. Last year we had a practice speed, scrimmage speed and game speed."

Evans on comparing Virginia and Virginia Tech:
"(Virginia) Tech don't play nobody. We play Florida State, Clemson. We're in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. The Big East isn't as tough as the ACC."